vocationn.

Brit.

/və(ʊ)ˈkeɪʃn/, U.S.

/voʊˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/

Forms: late Middle English vocacion, late Middle English vocacioun, late Middle English–1500s vocacyon, late Middle English–1600s vocacion, 1500s uocacion, 1500s vocatyon, 1500s–1600s uocation, 1500s– vocation; also Scottish pre-1700 vocacioun, pre-1700 vocatione, pre-1700 vocatioun, pre-1700 wocation, pre-1700 wocatioun, pre-1700 woccaioun (transmission error).

Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: French vocation; Latin vocātiōn-, vocātiō.

Etymology: < (i) Anglo-Norman vocaciun and Middle French vocacion, vocation (French vocation ) God's calling of a person to a particular (usually religious) way of life (c1200 in Old French), action of summoning an assembly or its members (14th cent.), God's calling of a person or humankind in general to faith (late 14th cent.; 1540 or earlier in vocation des Gentils ), a person's station or state in life, occupation, type of work (early 15th cent.), designation, title (late 15th cent. in the passage translated in quot. 1477 at sense 8), and its etymon (ii) classical Latin vocātiōn-, vocātiō invitation, act of summoning a person to appear in court, in post-classical Latin also action of naming, name (Vetus Latina), God's calling of a person to faith (Vetus Latina, Vulgate), God's calling of a person to a particular (usually religious) way of life (Vulgate), action of calling (5th cent. in Augustine), religious state or way of life (6th cent.), calling to office, appointment (from 11th cent. in British sources), gathering, assembly (from 13th cent. in British sources), act of emitting or producing voice (14th cent. in a British source) < vocāt- , past participial stem of vocāre vocate v. + -iō -ion suffix¹. Compare earlier call n., calling n., which show partial semantic overlap with the present word.Compare Catalan vocació (14th cent.), Spanish vocación (early 13th cent.), Portuguese vocaçāo (13th cent.), Italian vocazione (early 14th cent.); also Middle Low German vocātie . Semantic development. In uses with reference to the calling of a person by God originally after specific Hellenistic Greek (New Testament) uses of ancient Greek κλἣσις call, action of calling, invitation, summons: ‘action on the part of God or Christ calling specific people or all humankind to accept or seek to attain salvation’, ‘action on the part of God or Christ of calling a person to undertake a particular way of life or duty’ (so e.g. in the passage translated in quot. 1526 at sense 2a, where St Paul refers to his calling as apostle), and probably (apparently only in an isolated instance in 1 Corinthians 7:20) also ‘action on the part of God or Christ of calling a person to a particular state in life’, although it has sometimes been suggested that the use in 1 Corinthians 7:20 should be taken as showing the much more frequent sense ‘God's calling of a person to faith’. The use in vernacular languages to denote an occupation, trade, or profession reflects extended use (in a secular sphere) of the theological senses.

I. The action or result of calling or summoning, and derived senses.

†1.

a. Christian Church. The action of an ecclesiastical body calling or appointing a person to the ministry or to another position, role, duty, etc., within the church. Also: an instance of this. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > faith > worship > sacrament > order > vocation > [noun]

vocation1442

calling1538

1442 in A. T. Bannister Reg. Thome Spofford (1919) 252 (MED) Considre youre vocacion to youre saide cure, not by you desired, but at the instans of oure noble progenitor after youre worth and holy labores.

1581 in T. Thomson Acts & Proc. Kirk of Scotl. (1840) II. 492 Vocatioun or calling..is ane lauchfull way, be the quhilk qualefeit personis is promoittit to ane spirituall office within the Kirk of God.

1588 J. Udall Demonstr. Trueth of Discipline xv. 80 The gouernors of the church may not meddle, but onely in church-matters, as for example, vocation, and abeycation.

1637 G. Gillespie Dispute against Eng.-Popish Ceremonies iii. viii. 195 As the vocation of Ministers pertaineth to the whole Church, so to the same also pertaineth the removing of Ministers.

1698 J. Crull tr. S. von Pufendorf Of Nature & Qualification of Relig. 169 Since Princes are become Christians, the Vocation of Ministers does no more depend from the Church.

1847 tr. C. C. J. Bunsen Constit. Church of Future v. 116 Here the natural and historical form, that of call (or vocation) meets us at once. It is recognised as belonging to the congregation.

1860 W. F. Hook Lives Archbishops I. i. 2 A vocation to pastoral duty in the manufacturing districts demanded..his energies for five and thirty years.

b. A call or appointment to a secular public position (in quots. as a monarch). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > office > appointment to office > [noun] > call to office

vocation1553

1553 Proclam. Mary I 1 Sept. (single sheet) Speciallye synce the tyme of her vocation to the crowne.

1623 W. Traheron & E. Grimeston tr. P. Mexia Imperiall Hist. 769 They should assure themselues he would not forget any thing to preserue the right of his vocation to the said crowne.

a. Christian Church. The action on the part of God or Christ of calling a person to undertake a particular occupation, way of life, duty, etc., esp. of a religious or spiritual nature; the fact, feeling, or condition of having a divine calling of this type. Also: an instance of this. Cf. sense 5a.In Roman Catholicism vocation is the usual term for a divine calling to join the clergy, but in many Protestant denominations the use of call or calling is more common. Cf. calling n. 8a.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the supernatural > deity > Christian God > activities of God > [noun] > calling or attraction

vocationa1475

attrait1908

a1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Life Man (Vitell.) l. 10808 Thapostles..By choys & by elleccioun And also by vocacioun..kam to hym.

1526 Bible (Tyndale) 1 Cor. i. 1 Paul by vocacion the Apostle of Jesus Christ thorowe the will of god.

1528 Rede me & be nott Wrothe sig. h ^v Of Saynt Thomas of Cantourbury..I beleve, and..trust Yf that he were..of oure lordes vocacion [etc.].

1649 F. Roberts Clavis Bibliorum (ed. 2) 92 His Vocation or calling by God to be Governour of Israel in Moses stead, is repeated.

1660 F. Brooke tr. V. Le Blanc World Surveyed 128 A Cordelier,..being at Goa, moved with a pious vocation, went to preach the Gospel in these parts.

1753 Diary Blue Nuns in Publ. Catholic Rec. Soc. (1910) 8 126 Peggy Johnson left our house haveing no vocation.

1841 T. Carlyle On Heroes iv. 187 Luther and Knox were by express vocation Priests, and did faithfully perform that function in its common sense.

1888 ‘Bernard’ From World to Cloister i. 5 You see, it is a question of vocation—where I am called there must I go.

1958 F. O'Connor Let. 19 Apr. (1979) 279 She hopes that what I will get out of the Lourdes trip is a vocation to belong to the Marist Third Order.

2014 Church Times 30 May 25/1 As part of the excuse was to test a vocation to the religious life, I lodged in the daughter house of the Olivetan Benedictines of San Miniato al Monte.

b. In extended use: a strong conviction that it is one's duty or destiny to follow a particular profession, way of life, course of action, etc.

ΚΠ

1672 W. Wycherley Love in Wood ii. i. 19 When I was a Boy I lov'd the night so well, I had a strong vocation to be a Bellman's Apprentice.

?1749 tr. M. A. Cathcart in Copies Miss Cathcart's Lett. to J. Houstoune 34 I feel in myself no Vocation to do such a Folly, and to quit a Happiness which I have proved..for one which is very uncertain.

1834 Tait's Edinb. Mag. New Ser. 1 545/2 Doubtful whether he had any true vocation at this time to a Scotch matrimony.

1862 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 5 July 12/2 She throws out a diverging hint for the benefit of those women who have a call or a vocation for attending the sick.

1922 A. Brazil Monitress Merle xiii. 190 Morland, who..had no very marked vocation for anything, had been pitchforked into engineering.

1976 Times Lit. Suppl. 22 Oct. 1328/2 He felt the double vocation to transplant its pencraft and literature to a then Burgundophile England.

2012 Star (S. Afr.) (Nexis) 13 July (E1 ed.) 10 The nurses of today have no compassion and no vocation for nursing.

a. An occupation, way of life, duty, etc., esp. of a religious or spiritual nature, which God has called on a person to undertake; a life or profession devoted to the service of God. Frequently with possessive.

ΚΠ

1487 W. Caxton tr. J. Legrand Bk. Good Maners ii. iii. sig. dvi^v The pryncipal of theyr vocacyon is for to defende the fayth.

1582 R. Parsons First Bk. Christian Exercise i. i. iv. 43 Amongest the small number of those whiche beare the name of Christians, so manye are like to perishe, for not perfourminge of thes two principall pointes of theire vocation.

1611 H. Hexham tr. J. Polyander Disputation against Adoration of Reliques of Saints 2 Desiring to accomplish..my vocation which bindes mee to pre-advertise [Fr. preadvertir] the ignorant to take heed of these blind-leaders.

1702 J. Sergeant Of Good Intentions v. 76 To fight against our Ghostly Enemies is a Christian's Vocation.

1764 H. Walpole Castle of Otranto ii. 51 You was born to be a saint..and there is no resisting one's vocation.

1857 G. Smith Our National Relations with China (Foreign & Commonw. Office Coll.) 18 His vocation was to preach the Gospel of peace.

1888 H. P. Liddon in Christian World Pulpit 34 388 In some quarters, the missionary's life..is regarded as a profession rather than as a vocation.

1962 Franciscan Message Nov. 217 In the religious life, everything is ordered to enable the religious to pursue his vocation single-mindedly and with a minimum of distractions.

2006 Ireland's Own Feb. 3/2 A sister of Mercy who strove to work with all my might, To carry out my vocation in following God's plan.

b. In extended use: a profession, way of life, course of action, etc., which a person feels that it is his or her duty or destiny to follow, or for which he or she feels particularly suited. Frequently with possessive.Sometimes difficult to distinguish from sense 4b.

ΚΠ

1538 D. Lindsay Complaynte & Test. Popiniay sig. B.iii Nowe in thy adolescent yeres yenge Wolde thou euery day study but half an houre The regiment of princely gouernynge..Theyr myght thou fynd thy owne vocation How thou sholde vse thy scepture swerd and crown.

1664 N. Ingelo Bentivolio & Urania: 2nd Pt. v. 39 One not altogether unsensible that he hath over-charg'd his Vocation with burthensome Cares.

1694 tr. M. Boutauld Ess. suppos'd written by Monsieur Fouquet xiv. 127 If every one should be put to do what is truly his Vocation, how happy would the World be!

1729 J. Gay Polly iii. xi. 63 Ambition must take its chance. If I die, I die in my vocation.

1846 H. T. Tuckerman Thoughts on Poets 305 Routine gradually congeals their sensibilities. To invade this vegetative existence is the poet's vocation.

1928 Sunday Express 6 May 16 She observed herself think that possibly Athene felt political ‘hostessing’ to be her vocation.

1981 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 28 June (Late City Final ed.) x. 3/1 Esherick..started out as a painter but soon found his real vocation to be working in wood.

2009 Independent 30 Sept. (Life section) 5/4 Patti..claims to have a lot of luck with what she believes is her true vocation in life.

a. A person's station in life or sphere of activity; the mode of life appropriate to or determined by a person's position.Sometimes regarded as determined by God or appropriate to a person and hence overlapping with sense 3.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > [noun] > regular occupation, trade, or profession > vocation

clepingc1384

vocationa1492

call1536

calling1704

mission1819

a1492 W. Caxton tr. Vitas Patrum (1495) i. xvi. f. xx^v He shewed to theym, y^t they sholde neuer despyse other, of what estate or what vocacion [Fr. vocacion] he was, though he were vycyous.

?1542 H. Brinkelow Complaynt Roderyck Mors iii. sig. B4^v He wil gyue grace to the kyng, to walke in his vocacyon.

1565 T. Stapleton Fortresse of Faith f. 129 Gregory Naziansen leaving the bishoprick of Constantinople, much..serche was made to finde a worthy man to occupy that high vocation.

1642 T. Fuller Holy State iv. ix. 281 Heaven is his vocation, and therefore he counts earthly employments avocations.

1709 ‘B. Slush’ Navy Royal 89 He who in time of Peace follows the Sea, as his proper Vocation, does, and ought as naturally, and justly expect being Prest when a War breaks out.

1847 C. Brontë Jane Eyre II. vii. 185 ‘I shall..probably take the veil.’..‘The vocation will fit you to a hair,’ I thought.

1998 Jrnl. Biblical Lit. 117 405 A New Kingdom Hittite prayer has the king..anointed as priest.., underlining the sacred aspect of royal vocation and ritual function.

b. The means by which a person makes a living; a person's employment or main occupation, esp. regarded as requiring dedication. More generally: a trade or profession; an occupation.Sometimes difficult to distinguish from sense 3b.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > [noun] > regular occupation, trade, or profession

workeOE

mysteryc1390

facultyc1405

business1477

industrya1500

roomc1500

trade1525

pursuit1529

function1533

calling1539

profession?1552

vocation1553

entertainment1568

station1574

qualitya1586

employment1598

way of lifea1616

state1625

cloth1656

avocation1660

setworka1661

employ1669

estate1685

walk of life?1746

walk1836

1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique 95 b By vocation of life a souldiour is counted a great bragger, and a vaunter of hymselfe.

1610 S. Rid Martin Mark-all 13 If there bee any in our vocation or calling, that liue disorderly and out of compasse, what trade can you name that doe not the like.

1616 S. Page 9 Serm. 83 For the Plough helpeth to support the Crowne, and all lawful vocations haue as a particular & priuate gaine to the industrious agents themselues, so also a most profitable resultance to the Common-wealth.

1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 304. ⁋3 Your Petitioner's Ancestor..was the first of that Vocation in Britain; who..was by way of Eminency called the Stationer.

1751 J. Cleland Mem. Coxcomb iii. 248 Those of her vocation..break as naturally into foggyness, and corpulence, as the rest of the publican tribe.

1871 W. H. Ainsworth Tower Hill i. 1 A droll-looking wight, whose vocation was proclaimed by his motley garb.

1879 St. George's Hosp. Rep. 9 554 The vocations of the women..expose them to sudden changes of temperature.

1941 High School Jrnl. 24 324 Many people fail in their vocations because of personal traits that might be corrected.

2011 Herald-Times (Bloomington, Indiana) 22 Oct. c1/1 His vocation as a steel fabricator helped; he has a well-equipped garage shop and experience using welders, stomp shears and other tools of the trade.

c. concrete. Those engaged in a particular trade or profession, considered collectively. Now rare.Not always clearly distinguishable from sense 4b.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > worker > [noun] > one following specific occupation > those engaged in specific occupation collectively

faculty1511

vocation1567

function1574

state1625

trade1793

1567 J. Sanford tr. Epictetus Manuell xxx. f. 16 It is sufficient when euery vocation doth his work.

1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie iii. xxix. 237 It is comely that euery estate and vocation should be knowen by the differences of their habit.

1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxvi. 137 Some Lawes are addressed..to particular Provinces; some to particular Vocations; and some to particular Men.

1695 in A. Mitchell Inverness Kirk-session Rec. (1902) 3 The petitione of James Porteous visitore of the tailores of Inverness in..behalf off himself and the rest of his vocatione.

1786 Public Advertiser 18 Jan. A nation might enjoy comfortably the blessings of Heaven without painters, musicians, actors, dancing-masters, and many other vocations.

1960 Hansard Commons 19 May 1605 In a number of cases the whole vocation is being contracted out.

1996 Vancouver Sun (Nexis) 10 Aug. d7 I don't want to tar the whole vocation, but I will say there's a higher probability of getting bad apples into private security than in official law enforcement.

a. Theology. The action on the part of God or Christ of calling the elect, or all humankind, to salvation; the fact, feeling, or condition of being called to salvation in this way. Also: an instance of this.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the supernatural > deity > Christian God > activities of God > [noun] > calling to salvation

callinga1300

vocation1502

society > faith > aspects of faith > spirituality > salvation, redemption > [noun] > fact or condition of being called to salvation

vocation1502

1502 tr. Ordynarye of Crysten Men (de Worde) iv. v. sig. r.vi As the deuyll blyndeth the synner, so he hym maketh to lose the herynge of the vocacyon that oure lorde vnto hym maketh.

1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. iii. f. 306 As by vocation and election God maketh his elect.

1610 Bible (Douay) II. Amos comm. Foreshewing..the vocation of al Nations to Christ.

1672 J. Owen Disc. Evangelical Love 33 There is Vocation, or an effectual Calling to the knowledg of Christ by the Gospel.

1700 C. B. Disc. Divine Myst. iii. xvi. 408 The Vocation to Salvation, with all the Impressions of Grace which accompany it, is in us but a beginning of a Separation from the World.

1765 J. Gill Expos. Old Test. IV. 181/1 An emblem of the Lord's people in effectual vocation, coming out of bondage into liberty.

1853 G. S. Faber Diffic. Romanism (ed. 3) ii. iv. 262 He calls with a saving and beatifying vocation.

a1919 R. A. Webb Christian Salvation (1921) ii. xxii. 276 From start to finish redemption is carried on and through Vocation—by the Calling of the Spirit of God, and in no other manner.

2006 D. D. Wallace in F. J. Bremer & T. Webster Puritans & Puritanism in Europe & Amer. II. 551/1 Some theologians insisted that vocation, regeneration, and justification were simultaneous.

b. vocation of the Gentiles: the occasion or fact of God calling the Gentiles to salvation. [With allusion to Acts 10:45, ‘They of the circumcision which beleeued, were astonished,..because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the holy Ghost’ (King James Bible). Compare Hellenistic Greek κλῆσις τῶν ἐθνῶν, post-classical Latin vocatio gentium (4th cent.), Middle French, French vocation des Gentils (1540 or earlier).]

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > command > command or bidding > [noun] > summons or summoning > summoning together

callinga1400

convocation1413

vocation?a1505

vocation of the Gentiles1550

convocatinga1649

convention1702

convoking1765

the world > the supernatural > deity > Christian God > activities of God > [noun] > calling to salvation > of the Gentiles

vocation of the Gentiles1550

1550 T. Cranmer Def. Sacrament f. 212^v Propheciyng of the vocacion of the Gentyles, that God would extende his mercy vnto them.

1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors iii. 129 They pitch on Twelf-day, as that on which sometimes happened the vocation of the Gentiles [Fr. la premiere vocation des Gentils].

1710 Suppl. Athenian Oracle 406/2 The vocation of the Gentiles typified by the vision of unclean Beasts, offer'd by the Angel to Saint Peter to eat, was at the end of 40 months.

1878 A. J. Thebaud Church & Gentile World I. ii. 113 The character of the Messiah, the vocation of the Gentiles, and universality of the Christian Church..these are the noble objects offered to the eyes of Isaias by God himself.

1967 J. D'Souza Church & Civilization ii. 36 The ultimate vocation of the Gentiles..had been foreshadowed in Scripture from the very outset.

†6. The action of summoning an assembly or its members. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > command > command or bidding > [noun] > summons or summoning > summoning together

callinga1400

convocation1413

vocation?a1505

vocation of the Gentiles1550

convocatinga1649

convention1702

convoking1765

a1505 R. Henryson Test. Cresseid 272 in Poems (1981) 119 Befoir Cupide..[he] Speiris the caus of that vocatioun.

1772 Hartford Mercury 18 Sept. The letters of vocation for the new Senators appointed by the King of Sweden.

†7. The action or an act of making an appeal, entreaty, or petition. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > request > [noun] > invocation or appeal

bodec1175

stevenc1200

crya1300

askingc1330

prayerc1330

beseeching1340

invocationc1384

billc1386

conjuringa1400

pealc1400

conjurationc1450

adjuration?1473

remonstrance?1473

interpellation1526

contestation1548

address1570

vocation1574

imprecation1585

appellation1587

supplantation1590

advocation1598

application1607

invoking1611

inclamation1613

conjurement1643

bespeaking1661

vocative1747

incalling1850

appeal1859

appealing1876

appealingness1876

rogative1882

cri de cœur1897

1574 in A. Macdonald & J. Dennistoun Misc. Maitland Club (1833) I. 98 That ane publict humiliatioun and fast, togidder with an ernest vocatioun and prayar, be institutit.

1587 M. Grove Most Famous Hist. Pelops & Hippodamia sig. B^v Some on Venus, some to Luna make their vocation.

†II. Senses related to naming.

8. Apparently: designation, title. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > naming > name or appellation > [noun]

nameeOE

wordeOE

clepinga1300

namingc1300

neveningc1300

titlec1390

notea1393

stylec1400

calling?a1425

nomination?a1425

vocable1440

appellation1447

denomination?a1475

vocation1477

preface1582

prenomination1599

nomenclature1610

expressiona1631

denotation1631

appellative1632

compellation1637

denominate1638

nomenclation1638

nominance1642

titularity1643

entitlement1823

compellative1830

cognomen1852

tally1929

denotative1944

anthroponym1952

1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 156 Knowest not thou wel that euery man of noble name or vocac [i] on [Fr. vocacion] is holden & bounden to paye and holde his promesse.

Compounds

C1. General attributive (with first element in singular form), as vocation choice, vocation shortage, etc.

ΚΠ

1909 Washington Post 29 Aug. 2/2 The vocation training of the second class plainly is economic and of quite as much interest to their employers as to themselves.

1919 Twin Falls (Idaho) Daily Times 4 May 24/2 (headline) Vocation adviser here Monday, will consult with men.

1978 J. N. Kotre Best of Times, Worst of Times iv. 71 There was an acute vocation shortage among teaching nuns.

1983 Globe & Mail (Canada) (Nexis) 12 Mar. Father O'Sullivan, the vocation director for the Archdiocese of Toronto,..acknowledged his days in politics had much to do with the posters.

2005 Herald Sun (Melbourne) (Nexis) 16 Apr. 56 Shey Papanikolaou is only weeks into her nursing career and..is optimistic about her vocation choice.

C2. General attributive (with first element in plural form), as vocations crisis, vocations director, etc.

ΚΠ

1915 Barnard Bull. (Barnard Coll., Columbia Univ., N.Y.) 2 Nov. 5/3 The general opinion favored the correlation of the debating club with the existing related clubs..the Feminist Forum, the Socialist Club, and the Vocations Committee.

1956 Texas Catholic 30 June 1/1 How providential that a fine new vocations program should have appeared on the national Catholic scene just when our vocations shortage becomes so acute.

1974 Irish Times 15 July 9/3 In talk of the vocations crisis there was fear of seeming conformist, of being a curious character, a museum-piece, irrelevant.

1976 Redlands (Calif.) Daily Facts 27 Feb. Don Cronkite, biology professor and science vocations advisor at the University of Redlands, will be the featured speaker at a meeting of the Medical Explorer Post.

2001 Tel. Herald (Dubuque, Iowa) (Nexis) 11 Mar. f41 In addition to his duties as vocations director, Gibbs celebrates Mass at Loras College on weekdays.

Derivatives

voˈcationism n. training for a particular occupation; educational emphasis on this; = vocationalism n. at vocational adj. and n. Derivatives.

ΚΠ

1914 F. J. Adkins in School World Jan. 10/1 Vocationism, which may be regarded as a greedy view of education, means the dropping of life in the pursuit of livelihood.

1929 Med. World June 192/1 There is nothing wrong with vocationism.

1959 Mod. Lang. Jrnl. 43 382/2 It is no coincidence that at many of the large state universities where vocationism is rampant.., the earphone method of language instruction is most thriving.

1998 Annali d'Italianistica 16 12 The drift, especially in public universities, toward vocationism and the decrease in interest in the humanities.

voˈcationless adj.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > lack of work > [adjective] > without vocation

vocationless1848

1848 Spectator 29 Apr. 414/2 The Corn-law repealers were impelled by urgent self-interest, aided by urgent public wants, and they constructed a machinery to apply those strong motives: the Fifty-one are getting up a movement to employ that vocationless machinery.

1924 Blackwood's Mag. Apr. 445/2 Apparently we were all vocationless.

1939 A. Clarke Sister Eucharia iii. 27 I stood beneath the iron gate, unveiled, Vocationless.

2008 Independent (Nexis) 18 Nov. (Extra section) 16 Vocationless on graduating, he drifted into marketing and by his mid-twenties had sunk into a depression.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2018; most recently modified version published online December 2021).

单词	vocation
释义	vocationn. Brit. /və(ʊ)ˈkeɪʃn/, U.S. /voʊˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/ Forms: late Middle English vocacion, late Middle English vocacioun, late Middle English–1500s vocacyon, late Middle English–1600s vocacion, 1500s uocacion, 1500s vocatyon, 1500s–1600s uocation, 1500s– vocation; also Scottish pre-1700 vocacioun, pre-1700 vocatione, pre-1700 vocatioun, pre-1700 wocation, pre-1700 wocatioun, pre-1700 woccaioun (transmission error). Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: French vocation; Latin vocātiōn-, vocātiō. Etymology: < (i) Anglo-Norman vocaciun and Middle French vocacion, vocation (French vocation ) God's calling of a person to a particular (usually religious) way of life (c1200 in Old French), action of summoning an assembly or its members (14th cent.), God's calling of a person or humankind in general to faith (late 14th cent.; 1540 or earlier in vocation des Gentils ), a person's station or state in life, occupation, type of work (early 15th cent.), designation, title (late 15th cent. in the passage translated in quot. 1477 at sense 8), and its etymon (ii) classical Latin vocātiōn-, vocātiō invitation, act of summoning a person to appear in court, in post-classical Latin also action of naming, name (Vetus Latina), God's calling of a person to faith (Vetus Latina, Vulgate), God's calling of a person to a particular (usually religious) way of life (Vulgate), action of calling (5th cent. in Augustine), religious state or way of life (6th cent.), calling to office, appointment (from 11th cent. in British sources), gathering, assembly (from 13th cent. in British sources), act of emitting or producing voice (14th cent. in a British source) < vocāt- , past participial stem of vocāre vocate v. + -iō -ion suffix¹. Compare earlier call n., calling n., which show partial semantic overlap with the present word.Compare Catalan vocació (14th cent.), Spanish vocación (early 13th cent.), Portuguese vocaçāo (13th cent.), Italian vocazione (early 14th cent.); also Middle Low German vocātie . Semantic development. In uses with reference to the calling of a person by God originally after specific Hellenistic Greek (New Testament) uses of ancient Greek κλἣσις call, action of calling, invitation, summons: ‘action on the part of God or Christ calling specific people or all humankind to accept or seek to attain salvation’, ‘action on the part of God or Christ of calling a person to undertake a particular way of life or duty’ (so e.g. in the passage translated in quot. 1526 at sense 2a, where St Paul refers to his calling as apostle), and probably (apparently only in an isolated instance in 1 Corinthians 7:20) also ‘action on the part of God or Christ of calling a person to a particular state in life’, although it has sometimes been suggested that the use in 1 Corinthians 7:20 should be taken as showing the much more frequent sense ‘God's calling of a person to faith’. The use in vernacular languages to denote an occupation, trade, or profession reflects extended use (in a secular sphere) of the theological senses. I. The action or result of calling or summoning, and derived senses. †1. a. Christian Church. The action of an ecclesiastical body calling or appointing a person to the ministry or to another position, role, duty, etc., within the church. Also: an instance of this. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > faith > worship > sacrament > order > vocation > [noun] vocation1442 calling1538 1442 in A. T. Bannister Reg. Thome Spofford (1919) 252 (MED) Considre youre vocacion to youre saide cure, not by you desired, but at the instans of oure noble progenitor after youre worth and holy labores. 1581 in T. Thomson Acts & Proc. Kirk of Scotl. (1840) II. 492 Vocatioun or calling..is ane lauchfull way, be the quhilk qualefeit personis is promoittit to ane spirituall office within the Kirk of God. 1588 J. Udall Demonstr. Trueth of Discipline xv. 80 The gouernors of the church may not meddle, but onely in church-matters, as for example, vocation, and abeycation. 1637 G. Gillespie Dispute against Eng.-Popish Ceremonies iii. viii. 195 As the vocation of Ministers pertaineth to the whole Church, so to the same also pertaineth the removing of Ministers. 1698 J. Crull tr. S. von Pufendorf Of Nature & Qualification of Relig. 169 Since Princes are become Christians, the Vocation of Ministers does no more depend from the Church. 1847 tr. C. C. J. Bunsen Constit. Church of Future v. 116 Here the natural and historical form, that of call (or vocation) meets us at once. It is recognised as belonging to the congregation. 1860 W. F. Hook Lives Archbishops I. i. 2 A vocation to pastoral duty in the manufacturing districts demanded..his energies for five and thirty years. b. A call or appointment to a secular public position (in quots. as a monarch). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > authority > office > appointment to office > [noun] > call to office vocation1553 1553 Proclam. Mary I 1 Sept. (single sheet) Speciallye synce the tyme of her vocation to the crowne. 1623 W. Traheron & E. Grimeston tr. P. Mexia Imperiall Hist. 769 They should assure themselues he would not forget any thing to preserue the right of his vocation to the said crowne. 2. a. Christian Church. The action on the part of God or Christ of calling a person to undertake a particular occupation, way of life, duty, etc., esp. of a religious or spiritual nature; the fact, feeling, or condition of having a divine calling of this type. Also: an instance of this. Cf. sense 5a.In Roman Catholicism vocation is the usual term for a divine calling to join the clergy, but in many Protestant denominations the use of call or calling is more common. Cf. calling n. 8a. ΘΚΠ the world > the supernatural > deity > Christian God > activities of God > [noun] > calling or attraction vocationa1475 attrait1908 a1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Life Man (Vitell.) l. 10808 Thapostles..By choys & by elleccioun And also by vocacioun..kam to hym. 1526 Bible (Tyndale) 1 Cor. i. 1 Paul by vocacion the Apostle of Jesus Christ thorowe the will of god. 1528 Rede me & be nott Wrothe sig. h ^v Of Saynt Thomas of Cantourbury..I beleve, and..trust Yf that he were..of oure lordes vocacion [etc.]. 1649 F. Roberts Clavis Bibliorum (ed. 2) 92 His Vocation or calling by God to be Governour of Israel in Moses stead, is repeated. 1660 F. Brooke tr. V. Le Blanc World Surveyed 128 A Cordelier,..being at Goa, moved with a pious vocation, went to preach the Gospel in these parts. 1753 Diary Blue Nuns in Publ. Catholic Rec. Soc. (1910) 8 126 Peggy Johnson left our house haveing no vocation. 1841 T. Carlyle On Heroes iv. 187 Luther and Knox were by express vocation Priests, and did faithfully perform that function in its common sense. 1888 ‘Bernard’ From World to Cloister i. 5 You see, it is a question of vocation—where I am called there must I go. 1958 F. O'Connor Let. 19 Apr. (1979) 279 She hopes that what I will get out of the Lourdes trip is a vocation to belong to the Marist Third Order. 2014 Church Times 30 May 25/1 As part of the excuse was to test a vocation to the religious life, I lodged in the daughter house of the Olivetan Benedictines of San Miniato al Monte. b. In extended use: a strong conviction that it is one's duty or destiny to follow a particular profession, way of life, course of action, etc. ΚΠ 1672 W. Wycherley Love in Wood ii. i. 19 When I was a Boy I lov'd the night so well, I had a strong vocation to be a Bellman's Apprentice. ?1749 tr. M. A. Cathcart in Copies Miss Cathcart's Lett. to J. Houstoune 34 I feel in myself no Vocation to do such a Folly, and to quit a Happiness which I have proved..for one which is very uncertain. 1834 Tait's Edinb. Mag. New Ser. 1 545/2 Doubtful whether he had any true vocation at this time to a Scotch matrimony. 1862 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 5 July 12/2 She throws out a diverging hint for the benefit of those women who have a call or a vocation for attending the sick. 1922 A. Brazil Monitress Merle xiii. 190 Morland, who..had no very marked vocation for anything, had been pitchforked into engineering. 1976 Times Lit. Suppl. 22 Oct. 1328/2 He felt the double vocation to transplant its pencraft and literature to a then Burgundophile England. 2012 Star (S. Afr.) (Nexis) 13 July (E1 ed.) 10 The nurses of today have no compassion and no vocation for nursing. 3. a. An occupation, way of life, duty, etc., esp. of a religious or spiritual nature, which God has called on a person to undertake; a life or profession devoted to the service of God. Frequently with possessive. ΚΠ 1487 W. Caxton tr. J. Legrand Bk. Good Maners ii. iii. sig. dvi^v The pryncipal of theyr vocacyon is for to defende the fayth. 1582 R. Parsons First Bk. Christian Exercise i. i. iv. 43 Amongest the small number of those whiche beare the name of Christians, so manye are like to perishe, for not perfourminge of thes two principall pointes of theire vocation. 1611 H. Hexham tr. J. Polyander Disputation against Adoration of Reliques of Saints 2 Desiring to accomplish..my vocation which bindes mee to pre-advertise [Fr. preadvertir] the ignorant to take heed of these blind-leaders. 1702 J. Sergeant Of Good Intentions v. 76 To fight against our Ghostly Enemies is a Christian's Vocation. 1764 H. Walpole Castle of Otranto ii. 51 You was born to be a saint..and there is no resisting one's vocation. 1857 G. Smith Our National Relations with China (Foreign & Commonw. Office Coll.) 18 His vocation was to preach the Gospel of peace. 1888 H. P. Liddon in Christian World Pulpit 34 388 In some quarters, the missionary's life..is regarded as a profession rather than as a vocation. 1962 Franciscan Message Nov. 217 In the religious life, everything is ordered to enable the religious to pursue his vocation single-mindedly and with a minimum of distractions. 2006 Ireland's Own Feb. 3/2 A sister of Mercy who strove to work with all my might, To carry out my vocation in following God's plan. b. In extended use: a profession, way of life, course of action, etc., which a person feels that it is his or her duty or destiny to follow, or for which he or she feels particularly suited. Frequently with possessive.Sometimes difficult to distinguish from sense 4b. ΚΠ 1538 D. Lindsay Complaynte & Test. Popiniay sig. B.iii Nowe in thy adolescent yeres yenge Wolde thou euery day study but half an houre The regiment of princely gouernynge..Theyr myght thou fynd thy owne vocation How thou sholde vse thy scepture swerd and crown. 1664 N. Ingelo Bentivolio & Urania: 2nd Pt. v. 39 One not altogether unsensible that he hath over-charg'd his Vocation with burthensome Cares. 1694 tr. M. Boutauld Ess. suppos'd written by Monsieur Fouquet xiv. 127 If every one should be put to do what is truly his Vocation, how happy would the World be! 1729 J. Gay Polly iii. xi. 63 Ambition must take its chance. If I die, I die in my vocation. 1846 H. T. Tuckerman Thoughts on Poets 305 Routine gradually congeals their sensibilities. To invade this vegetative existence is the poet's vocation. 1928 Sunday Express 6 May 16 She observed herself think that possibly Athene felt political ‘hostessing’ to be her vocation. 1981 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 28 June (Late City Final ed.) x. 3/1 Esherick..started out as a painter but soon found his real vocation to be working in wood. 2009 Independent 30 Sept. (Life section) 5/4 Patti..claims to have a lot of luck with what she believes is her true vocation in life. 4. a. A person's station in life or sphere of activity; the mode of life appropriate to or determined by a person's position.Sometimes regarded as determined by God or appropriate to a person and hence overlapping with sense 3. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > [noun] > regular occupation, trade, or profession > vocation clepingc1384 vocationa1492 call1536 calling1704 mission1819 a1492 W. Caxton tr. Vitas Patrum (1495) i. xvi. f. xx^v He shewed to theym, y^t they sholde neuer despyse other, of what estate or what vocacion [Fr. vocacion] he was, though he were vycyous. ?1542 H. Brinkelow Complaynt Roderyck Mors iii. sig. B4^v He wil gyue grace to the kyng, to walke in his vocacyon. 1565 T. Stapleton Fortresse of Faith f. 129 Gregory Naziansen leaving the bishoprick of Constantinople, much..serche was made to finde a worthy man to occupy that high vocation. 1642 T. Fuller Holy State iv. ix. 281 Heaven is his vocation, and therefore he counts earthly employments avocations. 1709 ‘B. Slush’ Navy Royal 89 He who in time of Peace follows the Sea, as his proper Vocation, does, and ought as naturally, and justly expect being Prest when a War breaks out. 1847 C. Brontë Jane Eyre II. vii. 185 ‘I shall..probably take the veil.’..‘The vocation will fit you to a hair,’ I thought. 1998 Jrnl. Biblical Lit. 117 405 A New Kingdom Hittite prayer has the king..anointed as priest.., underlining the sacred aspect of royal vocation and ritual function. b. The means by which a person makes a living; a person's employment or main occupation, esp. regarded as requiring dedication. More generally: a trade or profession; an occupation.Sometimes difficult to distinguish from sense 3b. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > [noun] > regular occupation, trade, or profession workeOE mysteryc1390 facultyc1405 business1477 industrya1500 roomc1500 trade1525 pursuit1529 function1533 calling1539 profession?1552 vocation1553 entertainment1568 station1574 qualitya1586 employment1598 way of lifea1616 state1625 cloth1656 avocation1660 setworka1661 employ1669 estate1685 walk of life?1746 walk1836 1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique 95 b By vocation of life a souldiour is counted a great bragger, and a vaunter of hymselfe. 1610 S. Rid Martin Mark-all 13 If there bee any in our vocation or calling, that liue disorderly and out of compasse, what trade can you name that doe not the like. 1616 S. Page 9 Serm. 83 For the Plough helpeth to support the Crowne, and all lawful vocations haue as a particular & priuate gaine to the industrious agents themselues, so also a most profitable resultance to the Common-wealth. 1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 304. ⁋3 Your Petitioner's Ancestor..was the first of that Vocation in Britain; who..was by way of Eminency called the Stationer. 1751 J. Cleland Mem. Coxcomb iii. 248 Those of her vocation..break as naturally into foggyness, and corpulence, as the rest of the publican tribe. 1871 W. H. Ainsworth Tower Hill i. 1 A droll-looking wight, whose vocation was proclaimed by his motley garb. 1879 St. George's Hosp. Rep. 9 554 The vocations of the women..expose them to sudden changes of temperature. 1941 High School Jrnl. 24 324 Many people fail in their vocations because of personal traits that might be corrected. 2011 Herald-Times (Bloomington, Indiana) 22 Oct. c1/1 His vocation as a steel fabricator helped; he has a well-equipped garage shop and experience using welders, stomp shears and other tools of the trade. c. concrete. Those engaged in a particular trade or profession, considered collectively. Now rare.Not always clearly distinguishable from sense 4b. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > worker > [noun] > one following specific occupation > those engaged in specific occupation collectively faculty1511 vocation1567 function1574 state1625 trade1793 1567 J. Sanford tr. Epictetus Manuell xxx. f. 16 It is sufficient when euery vocation doth his work. 1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie iii. xxix. 237 It is comely that euery estate and vocation should be knowen by the differences of their habit. 1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxvi. 137 Some Lawes are addressed..to particular Provinces; some to particular Vocations; and some to particular Men. 1695 in A. Mitchell Inverness Kirk-session Rec. (1902) 3 The petitione of James Porteous visitore of the tailores of Inverness in..behalf off himself and the rest of his vocatione. 1786 Public Advertiser 18 Jan. A nation might enjoy comfortably the blessings of Heaven without painters, musicians, actors, dancing-masters, and many other vocations. 1960 Hansard Commons 19 May 1605 In a number of cases the whole vocation is being contracted out. 1996 Vancouver Sun (Nexis) 10 Aug. d7 I don't want to tar the whole vocation, but I will say there's a higher probability of getting bad apples into private security than in official law enforcement. 5. a. Theology. The action on the part of God or Christ of calling the elect, or all humankind, to salvation; the fact, feeling, or condition of being called to salvation in this way. Also: an instance of this. ΘΚΠ the world > the supernatural > deity > Christian God > activities of God > [noun] > calling to salvation callinga1300 vocation1502 society > faith > aspects of faith > spirituality > salvation, redemption > [noun] > fact or condition of being called to salvation vocation1502 1502 tr. Ordynarye of Crysten Men (de Worde) iv. v. sig. r.vi As the deuyll blyndeth the synner, so he hym maketh to lose the herynge of the vocacyon that oure lorde vnto hym maketh. 1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. iii. f. 306 As by vocation and election God maketh his elect. 1610 Bible (Douay) II. Amos comm. Foreshewing..the vocation of al Nations to Christ. 1672 J. Owen Disc. Evangelical Love 33 There is Vocation, or an effectual Calling to the knowledg of Christ by the Gospel. 1700 C. B. Disc. Divine Myst. iii. xvi. 408 The Vocation to Salvation, with all the Impressions of Grace which accompany it, is in us but a beginning of a Separation from the World. 1765 J. Gill Expos. Old Test. IV. 181/1 An emblem of the Lord's people in effectual vocation, coming out of bondage into liberty. 1853 G. S. Faber Diffic. Romanism (ed. 3) ii. iv. 262 He calls with a saving and beatifying vocation. a1919 R. A. Webb Christian Salvation (1921) ii. xxii. 276 From start to finish redemption is carried on and through Vocation—by the Calling of the Spirit of God, and in no other manner. 2006 D. D. Wallace in F. J. Bremer & T. Webster Puritans & Puritanism in Europe & Amer. II. 551/1 Some theologians insisted that vocation, regeneration, and justification were simultaneous. b. vocation of the Gentiles: the occasion or fact of God calling the Gentiles to salvation. [With allusion to Acts 10:45, ‘They of the circumcision which beleeued, were astonished,..because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the holy Ghost’ (King James Bible). Compare Hellenistic Greek κλῆσις τῶν ἐθνῶν, post-classical Latin vocatio gentium (4th cent.), Middle French, French vocation des Gentils (1540 or earlier).] ΘΚΠ society > authority > command > command or bidding > [noun] > summons or summoning > summoning together callinga1400 convocation1413 vocation?a1505 vocation of the Gentiles1550 convocatinga1649 convention1702 convoking1765 the world > the supernatural > deity > Christian God > activities of God > [noun] > calling to salvation > of the Gentiles vocation of the Gentiles1550 1550 T. Cranmer Def. Sacrament f. 212^v Propheciyng of the vocacion of the Gentyles, that God would extende his mercy vnto them. 1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors iii. 129 They pitch on Twelf-day, as that on which sometimes happened the vocation of the Gentiles [Fr. la premiere vocation des Gentils]. 1710 Suppl. Athenian Oracle 406/2 The vocation of the Gentiles typified by the vision of unclean Beasts, offer'd by the Angel to Saint Peter to eat, was at the end of 40 months. 1878 A. J. Thebaud Church & Gentile World I. ii. 113 The character of the Messiah, the vocation of the Gentiles, and universality of the Christian Church..these are the noble objects offered to the eyes of Isaias by God himself. 1967 J. D'Souza Church & Civilization ii. 36 The ultimate vocation of the Gentiles..had been foreshadowed in Scripture from the very outset. †6. The action of summoning an assembly or its members. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ society > authority > command > command or bidding > [noun] > summons or summoning > summoning together callinga1400 convocation1413 vocation?a1505 vocation of the Gentiles1550 convocatinga1649 convention1702 convoking1765 a1505 R. Henryson Test. Cresseid 272 in Poems (1981) 119 Befoir Cupide..[he] Speiris the caus of that vocatioun. 1772 Hartford Mercury 18 Sept. The letters of vocation for the new Senators appointed by the King of Sweden. †7. The action or an act of making an appeal, entreaty, or petition. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > request > [noun] > invocation or appeal bodec1175 stevenc1200 crya1300 askingc1330 prayerc1330 beseeching1340 invocationc1384 billc1386 conjuringa1400 pealc1400 conjurationc1450 adjuration?1473 remonstrance?1473 interpellation1526 contestation1548 address1570 vocation1574 imprecation1585 appellation1587 supplantation1590 advocation1598 application1607 invoking1611 inclamation1613 conjurement1643 bespeaking1661 vocative1747 incalling1850 appeal1859 appealing1876 appealingness1876 rogative1882 cri de cœur1897 1574 in A. Macdonald & J. Dennistoun Misc. Maitland Club (1833) I. 98 That ane publict humiliatioun and fast, togidder with an ernest vocatioun and prayar, be institutit. 1587 M. Grove Most Famous Hist. Pelops & Hippodamia sig. B^v Some on Venus, some to Luna make their vocation. †II. Senses related to naming. 8. Apparently: designation, title. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > naming > name or appellation > [noun] nameeOE wordeOE clepinga1300 namingc1300 neveningc1300 titlec1390 notea1393 stylec1400 calling?a1425 nomination?a1425 vocable1440 appellation1447 denomination?a1475 vocation1477 preface1582 prenomination1599 nomenclature1610 expressiona1631 denotation1631 appellative1632 compellation1637 denominate1638 nomenclation1638 nominance1642 titularity1643 entitlement1823 compellative1830 cognomen1852 tally1929 denotative1944 anthroponym1952 1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 156 Knowest not thou wel that euery man of noble name or vocac [i] on [Fr. vocacion] is holden & bounden to paye and holde his promesse. Compounds C1. General attributive (with first element in singular form), as vocation choice, vocation shortage, etc. ΚΠ 1909 Washington Post 29 Aug. 2/2 The vocation training of the second class plainly is economic and of quite as much interest to their employers as to themselves. 1919 Twin Falls (Idaho) Daily Times 4 May 24/2 (headline) Vocation adviser here Monday, will consult with men. 1978 J. N. Kotre Best of Times, Worst of Times iv. 71 There was an acute vocation shortage among teaching nuns. 1983 Globe & Mail (Canada) (Nexis) 12 Mar. Father O'Sullivan, the vocation director for the Archdiocese of Toronto,..acknowledged his days in politics had much to do with the posters. 2005 Herald Sun (Melbourne) (Nexis) 16 Apr. 56 Shey Papanikolaou is only weeks into her nursing career and..is optimistic about her vocation choice. C2. General attributive (with first element in plural form), as vocations crisis, vocations director, etc. ΚΠ 1915 Barnard Bull. (Barnard Coll., Columbia Univ., N.Y.) 2 Nov. 5/3 The general opinion favored the correlation of the debating club with the existing related clubs..the Feminist Forum, the Socialist Club, and the Vocations Committee. 1956 Texas Catholic 30 June 1/1 How providential that a fine new vocations program should have appeared on the national Catholic scene just when our vocations shortage becomes so acute. 1974 Irish Times 15 July 9/3 In talk of the vocations crisis there was fear of seeming conformist, of being a curious character, a museum-piece, irrelevant. 1976 Redlands (Calif.) Daily Facts 27 Feb. Don Cronkite, biology professor and science vocations advisor at the University of Redlands, will be the featured speaker at a meeting of the Medical Explorer Post. 2001 Tel. Herald (Dubuque, Iowa) (Nexis) 11 Mar. f41 In addition to his duties as vocations director, Gibbs celebrates Mass at Loras College on weekdays. Derivatives voˈcationism n. training for a particular occupation; educational emphasis on this; = vocationalism n. at vocational adj. and n. Derivatives. ΚΠ 1914 F. J. Adkins in School World Jan. 10/1 Vocationism, which may be regarded as a greedy view of education, means the dropping of life in the pursuit of livelihood. 1929 Med. World June 192/1 There is nothing wrong with vocationism. 1959 Mod. Lang. Jrnl. 43 382/2 It is no coincidence that at many of the large state universities where vocationism is rampant.., the earphone method of language instruction is most thriving. 1998 Annali d'Italianistica 16 12 The drift, especially in public universities, toward vocationism and the decrease in interest in the humanities. voˈcationless adj. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > lack of work > [adjective] > without vocation vocationless1848 1848 Spectator 29 Apr. 414/2 The Corn-law repealers were impelled by urgent self-interest, aided by urgent public wants, and they constructed a machinery to apply those strong motives: the Fifty-one are getting up a movement to employ that vocationless machinery. 1924 Blackwood's Mag. Apr. 445/2 Apparently we were all vocationless. 1939 A. Clarke Sister Eucharia iii. 27 I stood beneath the iron gate, unveiled, Vocationless. 2008 Independent (Nexis) 18 Nov. (Extra section) 16 Vocationless on graduating, he drifted into marketing and by his mid-twenties had sunk into a depression. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2018; most recently modified version published online December 2021). < n.1442
随便看	tnt to to (i-wite) of life to (i-wite) out of life to (iwite) of life to (iwite) out of life to a certain point to a certain, great, etc, extent to a certainty to a charm to a cow's thumb to a crisp to a day to a degree to a demonstration to a disadvantage to a dot to a etc nicety to a fare-you-well to a fareyouwell to a fault to a feather to a fine point to a fit to a folly